* CEO Nigel Clifford leaves after less than a year
* Chairman Kevin Loosemore takes control
* Loosemore says priority is delivering in line FY results
* Shares down 16 percent
(Adds analyst comment, shares)
By Paul Sandle
LONDON, April 15 (Reuters) - IT firm Micro Focus Intl parted company with chief executive Nigel Clifford on Friday, knocking its shares as chairman Kevin Loosemore took the helm and said his priority was meeting full-year forecasts.
The group, which supports mainframe computer applications for Tesco and Boeing, warned on profit in February when it said a number of its customers in the United States had scrapped system upgrades.
Shares in the British firm, which have lost a third of their value since an earlier downgrade in August, were 16 percent lower at 265.3 pence by 0738 GMT, the largest faller in the mid-cap index.
Peel Hunt analyst Alex Jarvis said investors would be focused on the close of the final quarter after the group had failed to meet expectations on a string of occasions.
"People have been quite nervous about this one over the last 12 months or so," she said.
"I think the management changes are positive but trading is as always very end-quarter weighted."
As well as problems at its mainframe business, Micro Focus has struggled to gain ground with its software testing division, formed by two acquisitions under previous chief executive Stephen Kelly.
Loosemore, whose appointment is permanent, said in a statement: "My immediate priority is to deliver the year end in line with shareholder expectations."
The company said there was no change in guidance of revenue of $432-442 million and core earnings of $159-167 million, before restructuring costs of $14-18 million, for the current financial year. (Reporting by Paul Sandle, Editing by Mark Potter)